A story is told of a king’s courtier named Damocles.
Damocles, spending time in the kings court, greatly admired the kings life.
He thought the king to be very lucky to have a such power, fame and a luxury
One day, the king, observing Damocles’ incessant gloating, invited him to sit at the kings chair and enjoy the trappings of power.
Damocles took the offer with alacrity, enjoying lavish feasts, fine servants and kingly splendour.
As he was indulging himself, his attention was drawn to a sword, held by a horse’s hair string, hanging over the king’s chair.
On seeing the sword over his head, his countenance was changed and he no longer enjoyed the feasts and luxury.
So disturbed was he by the precarity of his life, that he begged the king to relieve him of the privilege of sitting at the throne.
Life is life
Fabio is a mental health professional, researcher and lecturer of psychology at Kenyatta university